Page 2 of Off-Limits to the Grizzly

Her gaze drops to my T-shirt. “Aren’t you gonna, like, get ready?”

“Oh, I am ready. I don’t … you know.”

“Oh.” She nods and gives me a pitying look. “That’s too bad.”

It is? She turns back to the beer and I look around for customers, for something less controversial to focus my attention on.

After an hour or so, I’m kinda used to it. Guess there’s only so many times you can be shocked by the same thing. It’s still weird seeing the regulars though, mostly a bunch of decent guys I exchange banter with, watching the half-naked girls like hungry jackals.

I’m just carrying a tray of empty glasses to the bar when Adrian appears from the back.

“Blair—” His voice is loud, slightly slurred.

“Adrian.”

“Still wearing your shirt.”

My spine stiffens. “As agreed.”

He shakes his head. “We didn’t agree nothing.”

I open my mouth to point out that we very much did, but there’s that weird light in his eyes again, and I don’t think this is going to end well.

“For the last time, I’m not taking my clothes off,” I say, quiet but firm.

A muscle twitches in his jaw and he leans in close. His breath reeks of scotch. “You’re a real prick tease, you know that?”

“Errr…what?”

“Blair, you either show ’em the goods, or you get the hell out.”

A twizzling red panic alarm goes off in my head. “Uhh, I’ll go with option B, then.”

Heart sinking, I dump the tray on the counter and head toward the back stairs.

But, quick as a flash, he shoulders his way in front of me.

“Let me get past, Adrian.”

“Where d’you think you’re going?”

“To my apartment?”

“It’s not yours anymore. The room comes with the job.”

My gut lurches. Out of a job and homeless at exactly the same moment. Amazing.

Probably for the best, though. I was not looking forward to spending another night under the same roof as my newly psycho ex-boss.

“Okay, I’ll just get my stuff then.”

“Nope.” He plants his hands on his hips, blocking the doorway. “Not happening.”

Fuck.I bite down on the end of my tongue. The room is not officially mine. I didn’t sign a lease. I was broke. I didn’t have a security deposit. Adrian let me move in and said he’d take the rent out of my paycheck.

“Come on, Adrian, be reasonable. I don’t even have my coat here.”

“Tough titty.” He stares at my boobs and leers like he’s cracked an amazing joke.

---